Related Content

Mallory was sentenced in a Franklin County courtroom to one year of probation and a total of $600 in fines. The judge also sentenced him to 210 days of jail, but that was suspended. He pleaded guilty in October to filing a false disclosure statement and acceptance of a gratuity from a legislative agent.

He'll have to report in person for the first three months of his probation and can report by phone for the remainder.

Mallory's attorney, Michael Allen, said the sentence was fair. He said the 49-year-old Mallory, a four-term lawmaker and progeny of a storied Cincinnati political family, made "a mistake and an oversight."

Allen said the term-limited representative and his family have a reputation for "ethics and honesty and integrity," and he'd like to see his client pursue another public office someday.

Mallory's sentencing culminates the sweeping investigation at the Ohio Statehouse into lobbying by the payday lending industry, showcasing the work of Columbus' first FBI public corruption squad.

In addition to Mallory, state Rep. Sandra Williams, of Cleveland, a senator-elect and former president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, was fined and sentenced to a suspended six-month jail term last week for selling Ohio State tickets her campaign bought to a lobbyist and pocketing the proceeds.

Two more state lawmakers - then-state Reps. W. Carlton Weddington of Columbus and Clayton Luckie of Dayton - received prison time in the long-running investigation. Two lobbyists also were convicted.